Abby Jiang is a Chinese-American author born in Shanghai. She grew up during the
Chinese Cultural Revolution (文化大革命), a time when she was sent to a factory and the countryside to learn from workers and peasants as part of the movement's policies.
After the Revolution ended in 1976 and China reopened its universities, Abby took the national entrance exam and graduated from the Library Science program at the Fudan University branch school in Shanghai, now known as Shanghai University. Following her graduation, she worked as a librarian at a research institute in Shanghai, where she was soon promoted to chief librarian.
In 1987, Abby immigrated to the United States and settled in New Jersey. She is married and has one daughter. Over the years, Abby has worked at the library of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as in other public and research libraries. She has also gained experience as a bookkeeper for a law firm and as a licensed Realtor.